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Embracing the Circular Economy for a Promising Future in Sustainable Polymer Production

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 711

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Keiko Shirai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Biopolymers and Pilot Plant of Bioprocessing of Agro-Industrial and Food By-Products, Biotechnology Department, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Distrito Federal, Mexico City, Mexico
Interests: biopolymers; bioprocess; biomanufacturing; biomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Neith Aracely Pacheco López

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design of the State of Jalisco, AC. Southeast Unit, Zapopan 97302, Mexico
Interests: biopolymers; chitosan; bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, a collaborative effort of the scientific community, is dedicated to the dissemination of innovative research on biopolymer production. With a strong focus on a sustainable approach to the circular economy, it aims to bring new insights that will further advance the biopolymer industry, promote the minimization of resource input and waste production, and maximize efficiency, value, and sustainability.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses the use of a wide range of residues from agro-industry, marine and aquaculture sources, and the food transformation industry, among others, to produce sustainable biomaterials for several applications. This includes the characterization and modification of materials and proven applications, all within the framework of the circular economy approach.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Prof. Dr. Keiko Shirai
Dr. Neith Aracely Pacheco López
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biopolymers
  • polymers
  • green chemistry
  • circular economy
  • sustainability
  • biodegradability
  • bioeconomy

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2320 KiB  
Article
Enhancement in Post-Consumer Mechanical Recycling of Plastics: Role of Design for Recycling, Specifications, and Efficient Sorting of Packaging Material
by Thomas Rumetshofer and Jörg Fischer
Polymers 2025, 17(9), 1177; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091177 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 89
Abstract
Plastic packaging materials can play a significant role in turning the plastic industry towards a circular economy, owing to their large volumes and short product lifetimes. This study emphasizes the role and interaction of design for recycling (DfR), appropriate specifications, and efficient sorting. [...] Read more.
Plastic packaging materials can play a significant role in turning the plastic industry towards a circular economy, owing to their large volumes and short product lifetimes. This study emphasizes the role and interaction of design for recycling (DfR), appropriate specifications, and efficient sorting. DfR is enhancing the recyclability of plastic packaging by selecting appropriate materials and designs, improving the quality of recyclates without compromising safety or the original requirement. A significant barrier to achieving a circular economy is the lack of comprehensive standards for recycled plastics. While some specifications exist, a more integrated and globally accepted standardization regime, similar to that in the aerospace industry, is necessary to ensure quality and consistency in recycled materials. The potential of advanced sorting technologies to improve sorting efficiency and feedstock quality is highlighted, significantly enhancing recovery yields and the quality of recyclates. Information-based tracking technologies, such as digital watermarks, offer substantial benefits in identifying and sorting materials with high granularity, improving sorting mechanisms, enhancing resource recovery, and providing valuable data for stakeholders across the plastic value chain. The implementation of information-based technologies can reduce production costs and environmental impacts, with exemplary calculations indicating a potential 30% reduction in the production cost of PP recyclate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing the Circular Economy for a Promising Future in Sustainable Polymer Production)
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21 pages, 9141 KiB  
Article
Isolation, Identification and Screening of Plastic-Degrading Microorganisms: Qualitative and Structural Effects on Poly(Butylene Succinate) (PBS) Films
by Cristina América Morando-Grijalva, Ana Ramos-Díaz, Angel H. Cabrera-Ramirez, Juan Carlos Cuevas-Bernardino, Soledad Cecilia Pech-Cohuo, Angela Francisca Kú-González, Julia Cano-Sosa, Iván Emanuel Herrera-Pool, Sergio Valdivia-Rivera, Teresa Ayora-Talavera and Neith Pacheco
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1128; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081128 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 217
Abstract
(1) Background: Plastic contamination is on the rise, despite ongoing research focused on alternatives such as bioplastics. However, most bioplastics require specific conditions to biodegrade. A promising alternative involves using microorganisms isolated from landfill soils that have demonstrated the ability to degrade plastic [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Plastic contamination is on the rise, despite ongoing research focused on alternatives such as bioplastics. However, most bioplastics require specific conditions to biodegrade. A promising alternative involves using microorganisms isolated from landfill soils that have demonstrated the ability to degrade plastic materials. (2) Methods: Soil samples were collected, and bacteria were isolated, characterized, and molecularly identified. Their degradative capacity was evaluated using the zone of clearing method, while their qualitative and structural degradative activity was assessed in a liquid medium on poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) films prepared by the cast method. (3) Results: Three strains—Bacillus cereus CHU4R, Acinetobacter baumannii YUCAN, and Pseudomonas otitidis YUC44—were selected. These strains exhibited the ability to cause severe damage to the microscopic surface of the films, attack the ester bonds within the PBS structure, and degrade lower-weight PBS molecules during the process. (4) Conclusions: this study represents the first report of strains isolated in Yucatán with plastic degradation activity. The microorganisms demonstrated the capacity to degrade PBS films by causing surface and structural damage at the molecular level. These findings suggest that the strains could be applied as an alternative in plastic biodegradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing the Circular Economy for a Promising Future in Sustainable Polymer Production)
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15 pages, 33232 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Method of Periodic Medium Renewal of Bacillus aryabhattai RAF 5 and Analysis of P(3HB) Production
by Aidana Rysbek, Urszula Jankiewicz, Ewelina Pogorzelska-Nowicka, Jarosław Wyrwisz, Sailau Abeldenov, Aleksandra M. Mirończuk and Agnieszka Richert
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 968; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070968 - 2 Apr 2025
Viewed by 365
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of Bacillus aryabhattai RAF 5 to produce P(3HB) under conditions of periodic medium renewal (PMR). The producer was isolated and confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which revealed the presence of more than [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of Bacillus aryabhattai RAF 5 to produce P(3HB) under conditions of periodic medium renewal (PMR). The producer was isolated and confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which revealed the presence of more than 10 dense P(3HB) granules per cell. The purity of the isolated polymer was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The maximum concentration of P(3HB) reached 18.70 g/L with biomass accumulation of 21.44 g/L after 120 h of incubation under PMR conditions, which is 6.61 g/L higher than the concentration of P(3HB) obtained with the standard cultivation method. The resulting polymer was later used to create a membrane, which was then tested for permeability to water vapor, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and a biofilm puncture test. The resulting P(3HB)-based membranes have promising barrier properties, indicating their suitability for various industrial applications, including biomedical devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing the Circular Economy for a Promising Future in Sustainable Polymer Production)
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